Control system for wire weaving machines

ABSTRACT

A system for controlling the twisting and weaving mechanism, wire cutoff mechanism and selvage forming mechanism of a wire weaving machine in which the twisting and weaving mechanism, upon completion of a predetermined number of revolutions, produces a combined signal which is used to stop the wire twisting and weaving mechanism and start the operation of the wire cutoff mechanism, together with means associated with the wire cutoff mechanism to stop the same when it has made one revolution and again to start the wire twisting and weaving mechanisms. The selvage forming mechanism is started by a signal received from the wire cutoff mechanism, when the latter completes its cycle of operation.

United States Patent {72] Inventor John A. Roberson Birmingham, Ala. 21 Appl. No. 857,766 22 1 Filed Sept. 15, 1969 [45] Patented June 8, 1971 [73] Assignee Hackney Corporation [54] CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WIRE WEAVING MACHINES 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

52 0.5. CI 140/925 [51] Int. Cl B2lt' 21/00, B21f 29/00, B21f45/00 [50] Field of Search 140/30, 35,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,202,442 5/ 1940 Blashill 140/926 2,625,961 l/l953 Bergandi l40/92.6 2,843,160 7/1958 Blashil] 140/92.3 3,144,887 8/1964 Bergandi et a1 140/926 3,512,760 5/1970 Rohrbacher 140/923 FOREIGN PATENTS 701,512 6/1951 Great Britain l40/92.3

703,021 1/1954 Great Britain 140/923 Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-E. M. Combs Attorney-Jennings, Carter and Thompson ABSTRACT: A system for controlling the twisting and weaving mechanism, wire cut off mechanism and selvage forming mechanism of a wire weaving machine in which the twisting and weaving mechanism, upon completion of a predetermined number of revolutions, produces a combined signal which is used to stop the wire twisting and weaving mechanism and start the operation of the wire cutoff mechanism, together with means associated with the wire cutoff mechanism to stop the same when it has made one revolution and again to start the wire twisting and weaving mechanisms. The selvage forming mechanism is started by a signal received from the wire cutoff mechanism, when the latter completes its cycle of operatron.

PATENTEU JUN 8 1971 SHEET 1 [IF 3 j Lfi Lvfimil [NV/:N'IUR. hn A. Roberson BY w/ ffl yqrh Attorneys PATENTED JUN 8 I971 3583444 sum 2 or 3 I N VISN'IUR.

John 4. Roberson Alfie/n e95 CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WIRE WEAVING MACHINES This invention relates to an improved system for controlling the operation of a wire weaving machine and has for its principal object the elimination from such machines of the presently used gears, levers, ratchets, and diverse other mechanical contrivances adapted to time the wire weaving and twisting mechanism, the wire cutoff mechanism, and the selvage forming mechanism.

A more specific object of my invention is to measure electronically and in accurate fashion the number of revolutions of the wire twisting and weaving mechanism and from such mea' surement to produce an electric signal which in turn is used not only to control the wire weaving and twisting mechanism, but also to actuate the wire cutoff means which itself generates a signal later used to reactivate the then inactive wire weaving and twisting mechanism and the selvage forming means.

Another object is to provide, for use with a wire fence weaving machine, an electronic counter accurately to determine the number of revolutions of the wire twisting and weaving mechanism together with pulse storing or memory means, all of which is electrically associated with a clutch and a brake for the wire weaving and twisting mechanism, and which is effective to stop the wire weaving and twisting mechanism at a precise point in its rotation, thereby accurately to form the pickets of the wire fence being woven.

A more general object is to provide a control system for the drive and stop mechanisms of a wire weaving machine in which the various parts thereof shall be more accurately and more speedily stopped and started as required in the cycle than the previous, mechanically driven and actuated wire machines, thereby not only to increase the reliability of the machine but also to increase its production in unit time.

Apparatus illustrating features of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings forming a art of this application, in which:

H6. 1 is a wholly diagrammatic, side elevational view with certain parts being broken away and showing the wire forming and weaving section of a wire fence weaving machine together with the drive, clutch and brake therefor;

FIG. 2 is a plan view partly broken away and in section of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and showing in addition the clutch and brake drive and control means for the cutoff and selvage forming mechanisms;

FIG. 3 is a wholly diagrammatic view illustrating some of the switches and wiring for the apparatus; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic wiring diagram.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, 1 show a machine for forming wire fencing of the chain link type. Thus, the apparatus embodies generally three main sections, namely, the section A which is the wire forming and weaving mechanism; the. section B which is the wire cutoff mechanism, namely, the portion of the machine which cuts the wire from the continuous supply of the same after the formation of each picket or pair of pickets; and C the selvage forming portion of the machine, namely, the devices which engage adjacent ends of the wires of previously formed pickets at the selvage and twist them together or, in some cases, bend or knuckle them inwardly. The basic wire weaving machine per se is old in the art. By way of example, see Bergandi U.S. Pat. No. 2,625,916. In said patent, as well as in all other wire weaving machines with which] am familiar, the correlation and timing of the functions of the various parts of the apparatus have been achieved by gears, levers, cams and other mechanical devices. While these machines have been generally satisfactory they have required a. considerable amount of maintenance, this in turn requiring a large supply of spare parts for. the same. Further, the rate of production of the mechanically controlled machines has not been as great as desired.

My invention. comprises the operation of the various sections by means of electric clutches and brakes and a system for controlling the various parts of the apparatus in timed sequence. Thus, section A of the machine may be driven from an electric motor indicated at 10, which, when the machine is in operation runs continuously. The power from the motor 10 may be transmitted through belts 11 to the input shaft 12 of an electric clutch-brake assembly indicated generally at 13. The assembly 13 may comprise an electrically controlled clutch 14 and an electrically controlled brake 16. The wire weaving and twisting blade 17 thus is driven from the output shaft 18 which is under control of clutch l4 and brake 16.

It will be understood that in the so-called double picket forming machines two strands of wire 19, from rolls of the same, are fed to the section A of the machine as indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 2 and that from these two strands two interwoven, adjacent pickets are formed, thus to build up the wire fabric in weavelike fashion. It further will be understood that upon completion of each pair of pickets both wires have to be cut from the rolls of the same whereupon an indexing mechanism, not shown, rolls the previously woven fabric onto a roll or otherwise shifts the same so that one of the oncoming, then-being-formed pickets is properly interlaced and interwoven with the one at the immediate end of the fabric. The cutting operation must be performed at the end of the completion of a given weave cycle and the weave cycle is dependent precisely upon the number of revolutions of the shaft 18. In addition, the ends of the wires adjacent each other, along the selvage and perhaps several picks or pickets back from the ones presently being woven must be twisted or knuckled, to finish the selvage.

With the foregoing in mind it will be seen that one of the requirements is that the shaft 18 be rotated a precise number of revolutions, thus to form and weave a picket, or a pair of pickets, come to stop at a precise point in its rotation and remain in this position until the wire cutting section B has performed its function.

Mounted on the output shaft 18, or some other convenient portion of the mechanism driven by that shaft, is a reflecting device such as a common mirror 21. Mounted adjacent the mirror 21 is a light source 22 and a light sensitive signal generator such as a photocell 23 which is directed to receive a reflected beam from the mirror 21, with each revolution of the shaft 18. Therefore, each time shaft 18 makes a revolution photocell 23 generates an electric signal.

The signals generated by the photocell 23 are fed to a control unit indicated generally by the numeral 24. In detail, the signals from the phototube 23 are fed first to an amplifier 26, then to a pulse counter and pulse storer 27. At 28 1 indicate generally a plurality of relays which upon receiving signals from the counter and pulse storer 27 are adapted to actuate the clutch 14 and the brake 16, in proper sequence, through the circuits indicated diagrammatically at 29 and 31. Therefore, if it be assumed that the pulse storing mechanism sends a signal to the relay section 28 after fourteen revolutions of shaft 18, (it being assumed that the clutch 14, of course, was engaged during this time) the signals sent to 14 and 16 would immediately disengage the clutch 14 and engage the brake l6, stopping shaft 18 precisely at a given, predetermined point in its rotation. This therefore completes a weaving cycle, namely, the twisting and outfeeding and interweaving of two pickets.

The next operation, while the shaft 18 is at rest and at the completion of a cycle, is to actuate the section B of the machine thus to cut off both of the wires 19 which have formed the two interwoven pickets, the picket nearest the end of the fabric sheet of course being interwoven into the last or end picket of sheet.

At the completion of a weaving cycle the relay section 28 sends a signal through a circuit 32 to the clutch 33 of the wire cutting mechanism. At the same time, the brake 34, which previous to this time was energized, is deenergized through circuit 36, whereupon shaft 37 of the wire cutting section B is driven, thus actuating the wire cutting mechanism shown at 38, FIG. 2.

Driven from the shaft 37 as diagrammatically shown in the drawings is a single-pole double-throw limit switch indicated at 39. As soon as shaft 37 makes one complete revolution section 41 of the switch 39, which controls a circuit indicated at 42, interrupts the circuit 42, thus to deenergize the clutch 33 and again energize brake 34, thereby stopping shaft 37 in its beginning position. Further, in response to the interruption of the signal carried by line 42 the wire forming and weaving section brake 16 is released and its clutch l4 engaged, thus restarting the weave cycle.

The other section 43 of the switch 39 through suitable circuits 44, 46 and 48 controls the clutch 49 and brake 51 of the selvage forming mechanism section C. It will be understood that an electric motor 52 is provided to operate a gear box 53 which in turn drives a shaft 54. The shaft 54 operates the actual selvage forming mechanism indicated diagrammatically at 57, FIG. 2.

At 58 i show another limit switch which is driven from the shaft 54 and which may have a section 59 controlling a circuit 6!. When the selvage forming mechanism has made a complete revolution the opening of switch 59, through circuit 61, energizes brake 51 and deenergizes clutch 49. A counter 62 may be actuated by portion 63 of switch 58.

in view of the foregoing it will be apparent that l have devised an improved system for operating in accurate, timed manner the three principal components of a chain link wire fence weaving machine, it will be seen that when the cycle starts, as for instance with the first rotation of shaft 18, the pulsing of the phototube 23 due to the reflected light from the mirror 21 and the subsequent storing and use of these signals assures accurate, predetermined length and twist of each picket as well as forming the basis for timing the entire apparatus. In actual practice my improved apparatus has proven to be extremely satisfactory and not only is it accurate in its operation, but is relatively troublefree when compared to the previous mechanically driven and timed weaving machines. lt will also be appreciated that by the simple closing of some switches and opening of others either part of the apparatus may be operated independently of the others, as for instance, when it is desired to weave a picket for the purpose of inspecting the same or the like. Similarly, the selvage forming mechanism can be operated independently of the other portions, and so forth. Further, the number of revolutions of shaft 18 may be dialed into the system byrising a pulse counter and storer 27 which has a rotatable numbered dial as shown in FIG. 4.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

1. in an apparatus for weaving wire fabric of the type embodying a twisting and weaving mechanism, a wire cutoff mechanism, and a selvage forming mechanism, control means for the foregoing comprising:

a. means associated with a moving part of the twisting and weaving mechanism effective to initiate a signal when said twisting and weaving mechanism has rotated a predetermined number of revolutions,

b. means effective upon generation ofsaid signal to energize the wire cutoff mechanism and stop the twisting and weaving mechanism with its weaving means in a substantially predetermined angular position,

. means upon completion of a wire cutoff cycle effective to stop said wire cutoff mechanism and again energize the twisting and weaving mechanism, and

d. means effective upon stopping of the wire cutoff mechanism to energize the selvage forming mechanism, thereby to form the ends of the wires at the selvage.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim I in which the means in (a) is a light sensitive signal generator, and means to excite the generator with each revolution of the twisting and weaving mechanism.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the means in (a) comprises a light sensitive signal generator, means to excite the enerator with each revolution of the twisting and weavin mec anism, and means to count and store said signa 5 received from said generator, whereby, upon completion of a predetermined number of revolutions of the twisting and weaving mechanism the thus stored signals are employed to actuate the wire cutoff mechanism.

4. In an apparatus for weaving chain link-type wire fencing, which apparatus has a twisting and weaving mechanism, a wire cutoff mechanism, and a selvage forming mechanism, control means for the foregoing comprising: 7

a. means to drive and stop said mechanisms including electrically operated clutches and brakes for each of the same,

b. a signal generator effective to emit a signal upon each rotation of the wire twisting and weaving mechanism,

0. means to count and store the signals produced by the generator,

d. means effective upon receipt by the means of (b) above of a predetermined number of said signals to:

l. deenergize the clutch and energize the brake of the weaving and twisting mechanism, and

b 2. deenergize the brake and energize the clutch of the wire cutoff mechanism, whereby the wire cutoff mechanism performs its function while the twisting and weaving mechanism is at rest,

e. means effective upon completion of one cycle of operation of the wire cutoff mechanism to:

l. deenergize the clutch of the wire cutoff mechanism and energize the brake thereof 2. deenergize the brake and energize the clutch of the twisting and weaving mechanism, and

3. deenergize the brake and energize the clutch of the selvage forming mechanism, and

f. means effective upon completion of 1 cycle of the wire selvage forming mechanism to deenergize its clutch and energize its brake, thereby completing 1 cycle of all of said mechanisms. 

1. In an apparatus for weaving wire fabric of the type embodying a twisting and weaving mechanism, a wire cutoff mechanism, and a selvage forming mechanism, control means for the foregoing comprising: a. means associated with a moving part of the twisting and weaving mechanism effective to initiate a signal when said twisting and weaving mechanism has rotated a predetermined number of revolutions, b. means effective upon generation of said signal to energize the wire cutoff mechanism and stop the twisting and weaving mechanism with its weaving means in a substantially predetermined angular position, c. means upon completion of a wire cutoff cycle effective to stop said wire cutoff mechanism and again energize the twisting and weaving mechanism, and d. means effective upon stopping of the wire cutoff mechanism to energize the selvage forming mechanism, thereby to form the ends of the wires at the selvage.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the means in (a) is a light sensitive signal generator, and means to excite the generator with each revolution of the twisting and weaving mechanism.
 2. deenergize the brake and energize the clutch of the twisting and weaving mechanism, and
 3. deenergize the brake and energize the clutch of the selvage forming mechanism, and f. means effective upon completion of 1 cycle of the wire selvage forming mechanism to deenergize its clutch and energize its brake, thereby completing 1 cycle of all of said mechanisms.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the means in (a) comprises a light sensitive signal generator, means to excite the generator with each revolution of the twisting and weaving mechanism, and means to count and store said signals received from said generator, whereby, upon completion of a predetermined number of revolutions of the twisting and weaving mechanism the thus stored signals are employed to actuate the wire cutoff mechanism.
 4. In an apparatus for weaving chain link-type wire fencing, which apparatus has a twisting and weaving mechanism, a wire cutoff mechanism, and a selvage forming mechanism, control means for the foregoing comprising: a. means to drive and stop said mechanisms including electrically operated clutches and brakes for each of the same, b. a signal generator effective to emit a signal upon each rotation of the wire twisting and weaving mechanism, c. means to count and store the signals produced by the generator, d. means effective upon receipt by the means of (b) above of a predetermined number of said signals to: 